Closure for containers



6, 57 P. NOFER I 2,786,593

I CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hg. 1 7 .w..,:. ,9 15

@m'im m v March 26, 1957 P. NOFER I 2,786,593

CLOSURE FOR CONTA'INERS Filed Dec. 15, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet 2 March 26, P NOF'ER CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deb. 13 @1952 40 as 35 40' a United States Patent CLOSURE FOR CONTADIERS Paul Nofer, Brunsbuettelkoog, Holstein, Germany Application December 13, 1952, Serial No. 325,772 Claims priority, application Germany December 15, 1951 1 Claim. (Cl. 215-39) The present invention relates to a closure comprising a push-on lid for containers of various types, for example, for jars which are to be sealed in air-tight manner, for jars to contain preserves, and for preserving jars.

Push-on lids with closure parts which engage under or behind a collar provided externally on the jar are known in various forms. Among these closures, there may be mentioned, for example, the so-called crown cork, which i provided with a corrugated edge flange, the parts of which are positioned in a gripping manner beneath a bead-like projection formed on the head or neck of a bottle.

The main object of the invention is to provide a closure comprising a push-on lid, more, especially of a material which can be deformed comparatively easily, for vessels or jars of various types, which permits of universal use. A further object of the invention is to provide a closure comprising a push-on lid for jars which comprises a diiferently shaped bead or with which there is no head at all. A further object of the invention is to provide a closure comprising a push-on lid for jars which is capable of providing a better sealing action than the constructions which are known at present. 7

Another important object of the invention is to provide a closure comprising a push-on lid for jars, more especially for preserving jars, which assures an air-tight and effective closure also with comparatively non-circular jars, such as are unavoidable with mass production, especially of glass jars. A further object of the invention consists in providing a push-on lid for jars of various types in combination with a tear-off fastener. Finally, an object of the invention is to provide new processes and also new tools for the simple manufacture of air-tight closures, using push-on lids according to the invention.

In accordance with the invention, in a closure comprising a push-on lid, the rim of which is provided on its peripheral surface with a plurality of earns, more especially in the form of a continuous ring of cams, the adjacent flanks of successive cams are in direct abutting relationship with each other and form inwardly directed projections which, in the closed position, bear either against the outer wall of the jar or under or behind a bead or the like formed on the jar, it being possible to interpose a packing.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, these cam-like projections, more especially in the form of a cam'ring, close on a rim flange provided on the lid. According to another embodiment of the invention, the possibility is provided of arranging this cam ring, with which abutting flanks of two adjacent cams form inwardly directed projections, substantially in alignment with the upper wall of the lid before movement into the closing position. These cam-like projections are so deformed by a pressure which is exerted more particularly axially of the jar that, in the closed position, they produce an effective locking of the push-on lid on the jar.

With a push-on lid according to the invention, a pack ing can be provided at a suitable position for the air-tight sealing of the jar; for example, a packing can be ar ranged in a manner known per se between the upper rim of the jar and a suitable abutment surface of the lid. Such a construction is particularly suitable for preserves. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the packing or the packing material can lie on the cam ring, so that an external sealing is produced around the outside wall of the jar instead of a sealing on the top rim of the jar. Such a construction is particularly suitable for preserves, a centering of the lid being effected from inside. In accordance with the invention, it is also possible to combine the two aforementioned sealing arrangements with one another. Furthermore, a push-on lid according to the invention can also be provided in a manner known per se with means by which a desirable centering of the lid is produced on a jar which is to be sealed, and this centering can be carried out from outside or from inside.

In accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention, it is possible to arrange the external surfaces of the cam of the cam ring substantially on a common cylindrical surface which, with the arrangement of a lid flange or a lid rim, is disposed substantially concentrically of the said lid flange, whereas the inner projections formed by the adjoining flanks of two adjacent cams can be disposed substantially in the plane of the lid rim or flange.

With the arrangement of a cam ring according to the invention substantially in alignment with the upper side of the lid, the cam-like projections, which can assume substantially the shape of claws, can also lie with their external surfaces on a cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the jar.

The external surfaces of the cams or the cam ring may, in accordance with another embodiment, be disposed substantially on a common conical surface, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the jar to be sealed.

It is preferred to make the cam-like or claw-like projections on the lid substantially trapezoidal in cross-section, irrespective of whether they are arranged on a flanged edge of the lid or are a direct extension of the top of the lid, a long side of the trapezium forming the outside wall of a cam, while the diverging short sides form the inward abutting cam flanks.

As the packing material, it is possible to use a suitable.

sealing ring of rubber or any other suitable material. As an external seal, a ring can be placed on the external surface of the jar with slight initial tension, which ring is then positioned so as to bear and seal against the outside wall of the jar by the closing operation, with deformation of the cams from outside. In accordance with the inven tion, the cam ring itself can be a support of a packing ring or a packing mass placed in position before the deforming operation, the packing mass being disposed in the individual cams; by this means, a very intimate connection is obtained between the packing and lid, the packing then being pressed inwardly towards the rim of a jar during the closing operation with deformation of the cams.

The present invention is also directed to a novel process for manufacturing such closures, which consists in that after positioning the lid, preferably provided with an inner rim, both the cam-like or claw-like projections and also the packing are pivoted by a closing force which preferably extends axially of the jar, and the cams press inwardly against the jar with deformation of the packing. Such a process more especially permits an effective sealing of jars, even when there is no bead on the jar.

The invention further relates in a preferred embodiment to a novel sealing head, with which a plurality of resilient segments is provided, said segments expediently being held together, with interposition of an elastic cushion, by a holding means which can be made adjustable. By means of such a closing head, certain non-circular parts ofthe jar are compensated for, so that despite the existence of these non-circular parts, the cam-like or a ike n i c ichs c r un fcunly. ai st: e. outside i he 111:. w h ut. n. p acti e. here. being. a y. dan er. f. h j b eakin thas be n. fcuns h mush-Q1; d. c urc h. h e tur s of h nvch icn. wh sing: the cl sing he ac or an e. ith h in e n. P d h es ent l, adva tag hat a uni o m. b n o the earn-like projections isensured. and that, owing to the resilient construction of the sealing segments of the closing h ad, a 'cstructicn or b rsting o glassiarsis. avci d- Iheinyention. isfiurther dinected to a closur for jars, mo spec lly P e erv n i r w ich clo e scc bih d h ear-e f. ea in such. manner. h th cl urec n b pcn 'ina i nplem n er. For. h spu pcs n one constructional form of the inyeniion, an upper flanged im of he. i n ser e o ac am h date a re, ban or the like which is secured; in the closing position by the bending-o r peration. f. he amr lsc r claw-like. proj ct ons. fi h c es. and whi h w a c t in. de r deforms the cams back again by the tearing-0E operation, so that the jar can be easily opened.

Th ar-c t. means may cn chie t mann r. b r ge n sr the hype ed e. Qt a ja byin emb dded; r c mpl. n a g cv he. wa l o the. j r or. in a. groove f a p cic ion pr vi ed. Q the e of h jar, an h y. c h'b ven a y uit bl and e p die o ssection.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a push-on lid in side elevation, partly in section.

Figure 2 is. an underneath plan view of the lid.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section or" such a lid in the closed position, in combination with a jar having a jar bead.

Figure 4 shows. a c mpl e ew 9 aia i cctnbina icn with the push-on lid in the closed position.

Figures 5 and 6 show fragmentary sections of embodiments of a lid of the example according to Figure 1, when used with diiferently shaped jar beads.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lid in. combination with a jar having a smooth outside wall, this view being similar to the cross-sectional views of Figures 5 and 6.

Figures 8 and 9 each show a fragmentary section through a modified embodiment of a push-on lid in which the cam-like or claw-like projections are substantially a continuation of the upper edge of the lid Figure 8 show-. ing a cross-section through a part of the lid in the open position and Figure 9 a cross-section thereof in the closed position.

Figure 1 sh w a r a l n it d na section thr u h a closing head.

According to F gu e a p cki n 8. c rubbe or a mi r y i g m t r l s ar an ed in he usua manner in the inside of a lid 7. The rim or flange 9. of the lid comprises a plurality of cams 11 in the form of a continuous cam ring, the outside surfaces of the individual cams 11 being arranged substantially on a cylindrical surface, the axis of which coincides with the central axis of the lid or of the. jar to be sealed,

As will he e n from Figu e 2. h cam O th Cam. ring are of substantially trapezoidal cross-section, and the adjacent cam flanks l2 and 13 of two successive earns 11 are in direct abutting relationship with each other and form nose-like projections 14 which are directed towards the jar and which are disposed substantially in the plane of the lid rim or flange a il be seen in Fi ure 1- h c o e-l ke pr j ct nsv an b made reun t somewhat at their inner ends. The height of the cams 11 of the cam ring 10 is expediently such that when a lid is placed on the rim. of the jar, the point of; transition .15 from the cam 11 to the lid flange 9 commences sub.-

4 stantially at the level of the bottom edge of a bead formed on a jar. However, this is not a condition for carrying the invention into effect.

The method of producing a closure on a jar, which is indicated at 15a, using a push-on lid in accordance with the foregoing description, will be dealt with in greater detail at a later point of the. specification.

The closing operatiqn i s adyantageously carried out by deforming the earns 11' by compressive forces exerted axially Q15; ism. r en bsc' the. cams. 1 re di pgssq in the deformed condition behind a bead provided on the jar 15a. By this means, the contact between the. proi ctic s the ams and; he. wall. ct the in can be a punctilinear, a linear or even a surface contact. The position of the cams 11) in the inwardly swung position can be seen more particularly from Figures 3 to 6, according to which the outside surfaces of the cams 11 and he n e ed es. a the h selihc P lfi9l $l b5 3 shy f hs.h wa ds. has ano her, Whi e pa ts f. he. h crl e projectio s .4. are deformed. an archives a s id. o in ard. d n h re.- y arms are ctms l 9 t a the hea fi m n a he c Q a is! which isto be. seale Suc a. csi c. ca he us a a s omp isi g ditcteht es. cf he s,

Fi u e" hsws. =1. is: w th. a be d: 6 w ch. made ompara i l harpd ed as; ndic t d, a W l he n tur c the. Qetcr hat b cf he cams. indica t 1 Figure 6 shows a jar 19 in which the bead is in h o m. t at lt. is pos ib t make t m. rin w h. a br k s c s hat. aps exi etween. s Pa s; f si ple. thrcc r me sclc ichs. p vi. .d. W cams a e PIP.- t 911 d 9 the. l d s id se i h a in rr s d s a ce rom one anqther. Pu -sh l d. 1 truc sd n this. manne lsc capable. 9 ing s n. c hihhc ic i ar ha n $.FIQWYQE1PS, the t tske Q lawi is ihs ser in tds me Hea s sau er-1 hr ads tc h scrcw-thiss h hci Figure 7 shows one embodiment of the invention in ccmbina i with .SIBQ Q W UPQi Bl Iw i an ex e n l pac i i sed inste i a a Pa k n s id. xternal: a kin be n cxpcd ch u embedde n. the e n 1 o t e am. in Mcrccvsn he st c s c e am corre p nds t6 the c nstru t n Pr i u d ss h l.

Acco in o a oth r mbodiment. of h nvc t t hc i Fi re 8. and. t e. cam-l e 9 aw-l ke P ci c h 1 .11 ar ar a e a l Q th l 7., h c nter n pu nc c can be p tc dcd t a h ssic 22-. 11, thi cons ruction l f m. sn ck A.. is disposed inside the cam ring, so that a plastic external Packi s. Produce when h id is n e. cl l nc tic In this cqnstru tional form, the ends of the claw-like r am-h s 12:91 1 ar x cd bent wnar q ne ha i so. that th r s'v s i ed be wee han a e deepened s m what qhtwa dlv n dqwn iq i by this means th mg oner n ih a 9 da ic v' h the subsequent descript is facilitated and a suitable d fcr stidh. 9 th cams. 1. 14. is rsd s d- W h ns ue shal example it is a s expedient to. se a closing force extending axially of the jar, so that the; ams in. e clq ed. assit sm hav a s ap subs an a y like t ats s nihf a The arr n cf t invchticn t effect d e n P s pp c h t he ms a d eased on a csmm cylinder surface; for exal ple, as indicated in Figure 8, it is possible for the external surfaces of the cams to lie'o n a conical surface, the central axis of which coincides with the inc nlcn ithd n 9 thcis ente a b ab e t9 Pr dhcs s slqsh e in a e tanc wi h th i ven ion, s n ss e t9 1J1P1QY s al n h a u h s haw mere a ic la y a Fi u e .0!

In this constructional example, a sealing or closing h ad. in icated scnet ll a 30 s adapted: to be moved vertically np and .down inside a housing indicated at 31 by means of a driving arrangement which is not shown. For this purpose, the closing head comprises a guide 32, preferably in the form of a cylinder, which is movable in the housing 31. This guide 32 carries at its bottom end a cylindrical flange 33, in which a cover plate 35 is movable by means of a cylindrical guide rod 34 against the action of a spring 36. The cylinder flange 33 is rigidly connected with a cup-shaped structure 37 which is formed with a plurality of slots 38 which are spaced from one another and which are connected with cylin dricalr bores in said structure, so that separate inherently resilient elements 40 are formed which are rounded off at their bottom ends at 41 and form the sealing parts for a closure according to the invention. Positioned around the resilient segments 40 is a leaf spring 42 which carries externally a rubber ring 43, which is in turn enclosed on the outside by a leaf spring as around which is positioned a retaining ring which is indicated at 45 and which has two flanges 46 adapted to be connected together by screws, so that the diameter of the retaining ring can be adjusted.

Provided externally on the cylinder 32 is an abutment 47 in the form of a plate, which can cooperate with projections 48 rigidly connected with the cover plate 35 in order to eject any jars, which may be retained in the closing head 30 owing to being not truly circular, with the upward movement of the closing head.

This ejecting movement is achieved by means of a control device hereinafter to be described. Pivoted to the housing 31 at 52 and 53 are two control parts, which are indicated generally at 50 and 51 and which each comprises a pin 54, 55, which are pulled towards one another in the direction indicated by the arrow by means of a helical spring 56; the control parts 52 and 53 each project partially through a recess 57 and 58 formed in the plate 47. Since these control parts are identical in their construction, it is sufficient to describe only one of these parts. Each control part is provided on one side with an angular recess 59 and on the opposite side with a recess 60; at its bottom end, it is formed with a taper 61 which can cooperate with a tapered portion 62 formed on the retaining ring 45.

By moving the closing head 30 in a downward direction, an elastic and effective closing of the lid is carried out by means of the resilient annular segments 40, 41, the cover plate 35 being forced back against spring action, but again assuming its position as shown in Figure after outward movement of the closing head 30.

If a sealed vessel should jam in the closing head owing to the jar not being strictly circular, the projections 48 project out of the rear wall of the cylinder flange 33 with the upward movement of the head and, with continued upward movement, hear from below against the plate 47, which is blocked in its upward movement by hearing on thte noses or projections 63 of the control parts 50, 51 in their upward movement. Consequently, with further upward movement of the closing head, the extensions 48 and thus the cover plate 35 are forced downwardly until the latter has forced out the jar.

With further upward movement of the closing head, the inclined surface 62 on the retaining ring 44 co-operates with the inclined surfaces 61 of the control levers 50, 51, and the latter are rocked against the action of the spring 56 so that the plate 47 becomes free from the noses or projections 63 and can be moved further in an upward direction with the closing head until the plate 47 bears in its uppermost position against the upper walls 64 of the recess 59. The closing head is then ready to operate again.

A closing head in accordance with the invention, which is adapted to be used on a closure according to the invention, can compensate for tolerances in the glass of the order of size of about /2 mm., on account of the resilient construction of the annular segments, so that a uniform bearing of the cams is ensured even with noncircular jars and thus an air-tight sealing of the jar is guaranteed. Furthermore, the possibility is also provided of using the closing head for different sizes after adjustment of the connecting screws of the flanges 46 of the retaining ring 45, so that the diameters of the jars to be closed with a prescribed closing head can vary by about 2 mm.

The arrangement of an elastic cushioning 45 between the spring segments 40, 41 and the outer retaining ring 45 also ensures, with non-circular jars, more especially of glass, a yielding of the retaining rings, so that therefore the danger of the glass breaking is eliminated, even with relatively large inaccuracies in the glass.

It also comes within the scope of the invention to provide, instead of such resilient segments, a preferably resilient roller ring comprising a plurality of rollers which bear from above against the cams and carry out the above-described closing operation with rolling friction.

In addition to the advantages set forth, a closure according to the invention has the particular advantage that it can be opened easily and comfortably. It is merely necessary to insert a suitable instrument, for example, the handle of a tea-spoon, between the cams and the wall of the jar and to bend up the cams slightly, and then the lid can be easily removed.

The present invention further comprises a process for closing jars and like containers by using lids of the invention which consists in that the closing forces are directed radially or radially and axially respectively, and for manufacturing such closures normal closing machines may be used which are provided with the usual rollers being pressed in radial direction against the cam-like projections of the lid.

I claim:

A closure for the opening of a container comprising a beaded neck on the container, a lid portion, a vertically depending skirt portion, a deformable portion connected to said skirt portion along a closed line conforming to the outer configuration of said beaded neck, a plurality of cams adjacently positioned at the lowermost portion of said deformable portion in a closed chain in accordance with the outer configuration of the beaded neck, each of said cams having a cross-section formed by the two sides and top of a trapezoid angularly intersecting, the top being arcuate, the base of the trapezoidal cross-section being towards the inside of the closed chain, the adjacent sides of adjacent cams forming triangular projections directed towards the inside of the closed chain for engaging the container, the vertex of each triangular projection with the closure engaged with the container forming a substantially straight line lying on an inverted frustoconical surface contacting the lower surface of the bead on said beaded neck, the straight line extending to the closed line between said skirt and deformable portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,258 Painter Feb. 2, 1892 855,782 Hull June 4, 1907 890,910 Kirkegaard June 16, 1908 907,808 Iebsen Dec. 29, 1908 1,043,134 Nissinen Nov. 5, 1912 

